Design & Build

If, like me, you’re a long-time Paperwhite user, then the most obvious change with the new model is the larger size. The frame itself is only slightly increased, going from the 167 x 116 x 8.18mm dimensions of the 2018 model to a 174 x 125 x 8.1mm configuration.

Weight has also grown a tad, with the 187g of the older model now moving up to 205g. Don’t worry though, this is still a very comfortable device to hold that doesn’t feel heavy at all even during extended reading sessions.

In fact, the small expansion of the width arguably makes it more comfortable to read with two hands than the previous efforts. 

This extra space has one prominent benefit though, in the form of the 6.8in display which replaces the 6in version on the previous models. This isn’t the biggest screen we’ve seen on a Kindle so far, as the Oasis sports a 7in panel, but when you hold the two Paperwhites side-by-side the 2021 model does feel significantly more spacious. 

One other change is the move from a micro-USB charging port to the more modern USB-C, although you only get a (quite short) cable in the box, not a charger. 

Otherwise, it’s a very similar design to its predecessors like the Paperwhite 2018. The front panel is smooth, not the photo-frame style of some earlier models, and attracts fingerprints like an avid collector.

You still have the grippy surface on the rear that means you don’t worry about dropping the device, but should that happen when you’re reading in the bath, it’s not a disaster as the IPX8 rating is there to ensure the Kindle Paperwhite (2021) will survive the dip. 

If you want page turn buttons, you’ll have to look to the Kindle Oasis. 

Specs & Features

While there are some cool new features on this model, it’s still a Kindle and as such there are the constants you would expect.

These might sound like negatives, but I think they are key elements that make a Kindle such a satisfying way to enjoy books. You don’t get distracted by notifications like you would on a tablet or smartphone, there’s no temptation to switch over to another app to check something, and you don’t have to wrestle with managing files.

It’s basic, simple, and means you can get on with reading rather than multi-tasking. I wouldn’t swap mine for the world. 

Display

Naturally, the new display is the most important feature for the new Paperwhite.

As mentioned above, it’s a 6.8in panel running at 300ppi and I have to say that it might sound like a small increase over the previous 6in ones, but the repositioning of the screen due to the smaller top bezel and the increased display size does make it feel quite substantially larger. 

Opening up the same book on my 2015 Paperwhite, with identical font choice and size, shows that the new model displays an extra two lines of text per page. As I’m somewhat blind after years of staring at screens, this is on a larger font-size, so if your eyes are sharper than mine then you should find that you’ll get even more lines per page with the 2021 model. 

Of course, you can adjust the margins, spacing, alignment, and font, not to mention switch between landscape or portrait modes to tailor the Kindle to your preferred reading style. 

With the Kindle Paperwhite (2021) you also get Warmth control, first seen on the Oasis. This is excellent, as it allows you to incrementally adjust the colour temperature of the screen.

Set at zero you have the cold blueish light emitted by the 17 under-display LEDs that was the kind of thing previously offered as standard with Paperwhites. But as you move the slider up it adds a more red light, giving a yellowish hue that is be much easier on the eyes in low light situations.

There’s also a schedule feature that lets you set certain times when the warmth setting is engaged, which is ideal for the evenings and nighttime when you don’t want blue-light stimulating your brain and making it more difficult to sleep.  

In all honesty, the warmth feature alone is probably one of the main reasons to tempt me into retiring my older Paperwhite and moving to the newer version – especially now it’s not reserved for the expensive Oasis model.

Storage

This may be a consideration though because if you have an Audible account, you’ll now see the audiobooks listed in your Kindle library. Download these to the device, connect a pair of wireless earbuds, and you’ll be able to listen to them directly from your Kindle Paperwhite.

If you have both the Kindle and Audible versions then the Whispersync feature will keep track of your progress, so you can move between listening or reading without having to remember where you’d left off.

User Interface

The interface has also had a facelift, with the main screen now offering two options at the bottom of the screen – Home and Library – to quickly move between them, or you can tap the image of the book you’re currently reading to go straight back to the last page you read. 

If you’re struggling to remember details about characters or locations in the story, then you can use the X-Ray feature to get short summaries of them without having to backtrack, plus the Smart Lookup and Word Wise features can provide translations or definitions of words in the text.  

I can’t check this accurately, but can say that the overall feel of the Kindle Paperwhite (2021) is responsive and fast, with none of the ponderous transitions that my older version can sometimes exhibit. 

Battery Life

Obviously, the loan period of test devices doesn’t usually extend to ten weeks, so I can only go by my experience of the device over a week, during which time I read an hour or so each night and still ended up with about 75% charge left in the tank. Kindles last for ages, so you can be sure that you won’t need to be near a power point too often unless you run it at full brightness all the time. 

Recharge times at around two and half hours from zero to full, so you won’t have to wait that long to get back to your stories. 

Price

For the ad-supported model it’s £129.99/US$139.99 while the non-ad version will set you back £139.99/US$159.99. Either way, you can get it with a three month free trial of Kindle Unlimited.

There’s also the Kindle Paperwhite (2021) Kids, which is the same as the Paperwhite reviewed here, but with the addition of a colourful case, free access to 1,000 children’s books, plus a two-year warranty all for £139.99/US$159.99.

To see how these compare to the models they supersede, read our best Kindles roundup and best eReaders chart.

Verdict

For a number of years now, the Kindle Paperwhite has been an excellent distillation of a single-use device. Pretty much everything you want and nothing that you don’t.

By increasing the screen size, while maintaining a slim and lightweight frame, the 2021 Paperwhite is easily the best one yet. Not only do you see more of your book on the display, but the addition of the warmth feature from the Oasis makes it much easier on the eyes, especially at night.

Faster charging would be nice, but with improved battery life and a USB-C port, you arrive at what is the sweet spot in the Kindle range. Indeed, this is one of the best eReaders around.

Martyn has been involved with tech ever since the arrival of his ZX Spectrum back in the early 80s. He covers iOS, Android, Windows and macOS, writing tutorials, buying guides and reviews for Macworld and its sister site Tech Advisor.